The Christmas Cop

by Barbara McMahon

  Now he'd miss it.

  "Get used to it, dude," he murmured. "If she found the glitch, she'll be gone for good."

  Would she even remember the Christmas invitation in three weeks?

  For the first time in years, Jake hoped he'd be spending Christmas with someone.

  Shea went to update Captain Robbins on the situation, then wandered to the IT section for the police department. It was comprised of three men and a woman who handled all the computer requests.

  "Hi guys," she said as she breezed into their small work room. It was cooler here than the rest of the building. She wished she'd put on a sweater.

  "Hey, Shea. Find the glitch yet?" Stan asked.

  "I think so. One anyway. I'll recompile it and then we can try it out. Are you planning to work tomorrow?"

  “Most of us have the weekend off. Brian will be here, but we can wait for Monday. He’s here to handle emergencies, not the routine work on the weekends. What was the problem?"

  Knowing they'd understand–unlike Captain Robbins who had brushed aside the details, only wanting to know it’d work–she explained the code she believed was limiting the program. The five of them discussed the ramifications and agreed to test it out together Monday morning.

  Once they finished with their discussion, Shea took off for her office. She'd see if there was anything crucial needing her attention there. Working off site had its limits.

  Jake closed the file. Nothing out of the ordinary. No clues that hadn't been followed. No definitive suspects. While still technically an open case, he had nothing to offer that would lead to the murderer.

  He rubbed his eyes and glanced at his watch. He could head for home. No one would begrudge him a couple of hours.

  He was annoyed at himself for feeling tired after sitting at a desk all day. He needed to get back in shape if he was going to pass the physical to resume full time duty. He wondered if the gym had any programs for those who couldn't use their leg?

  He opened the top drawer and took out the flash drive. Might as well do some recon on this to see what he was up against. He put it in the computer and double clicked. In a moment he had the list of files displayed.

  Kids. Vendors. Volunteers. Organizations. The latter probably companies that participated with direct financial donations.

  He doubled clicked on vendors. Gibberish filled the screen. Jake frowned. Wasn't this a self operating program? Did he need to open it in some other program? He exited out of the drive and pulled it out. He wasn't going to deal with this today.

  Though he'd have to get started soon. Christmas was approaching faster than he liked. He resented he'd been given the assignment, but that didn't mean he didn't plan to do a good job.

  He'd deal with it Monday morning. He’d relish the weekend to catch up on rest and be in better form come Monday.

  Shea headed for her home-away-from-home-office early Monday morning to dump her stuff on her desk. Then she'd head for IT. She wanted to see Jake before getting down to work.

  Mainly for the Christmas assignment, she told herself. But she knew that wasn't the only reason. Maybe not even the most important reason.

  She’d thought about him a lot over the weekend. He intrigued her.

  He was good looking yet didn't seem to play off that like some men did. He was reticent about his own life, didn't gossip like some liked to do or flirt.

  If he ever smiled, she’d missed it.

  She couldn’t help smiling herself remembering his reaction to being the Christmas Cop. Despite that, she suspected he'd give it his all. He didn't seem like a man who would slough off any responsibility given him.

  Sipping her coffee, she sat at her desk and turned on the computer. The program had recompiled over the weekend. Now she wanted Stan to try what he’d done before that brought up the glitch. She hoped this was the only problem. She didn't want the PD to think her company wasn't up to designing the custom program they'd asked for.

  She heard the thumps and smiled, watching the doorway.

  A moment later he stepped into the room, surprised to see her evident in his expression.

  "Did you do the testing already?" he asked, walking over to his desk.

  "Not yet. I'm waiting for Stan to call to say he's ready. They have other work to do, so I'm in a waiting mode right now."

  "Maybe you can help me out," Jake said, shrugging off his jacket, sitting down and turning on his computer.

  "Sure, with what?"

  "I tried the flash drive before I left Friday, but couldn't get it opened right. Maybe it's using a program I don't have."

  He retrieved it from the desk and plugged into his computer.

  Shea took a last swallow of her coffee, tossed the cup into the trash, and went to his desk.

  "Show me," she said leaning over his shoulder.

  Jake caught the sweet scent she was wearing and for a moment forgot what he was doing.

  From the corner of his eye he could see her pink hair. It looked as soft and fluffy as cotton candy. Was it silky to the touch? Or had the dye made it coarse?

  "So go to that drive and double click," she instructed.

  Did she think he didn't know that much? He quickly tried to open the vendor file.

  The same gibberish filled the screen.

  "It's a standard excel file," she said, leaning over to reach the key board, brushing against his shoulder as she did.

  "Hmmm," she said using the mouse to move the cursor.

  A click and she was back to the list of files.

  She studied them a moment and then reached over his shoulder again to use the mouse and made the description column larger.

  Jake kept his face forward, his eyes on the computer screen. But he was tempted to turn slightly to the right. Her face was inches from his. He could feel the warmth from her body.

  She pulled up the excel software and tried opening the file labeled kids.

  Same result.

  She tried the others without any better success.

  "This drive looks to be corrupted," she said, standing up and moving around the desk so he could see her.

  "Which means?"

  He was relieved she'd moved away. Being so close had been too tempting.

  "Who knows? There're several ways data can get corrupted. I don't suppose there's a back up?"

  "I'll check."

  After speaking with Janey, Jake hung up shaking his head. "No, this is all she had."

  "And the paper files we sorted yesterday aren't current."

  "I'm screwed, aren't I?" he asked.

  "Let me look at the drive. I might be able to pull some of the data from it."

  "Worse case I can call for the vendors' updates using the paper files. I could even check with volunteers if they're still willing to help. But I need those kids names. The paper list is too old. Without them, I have no idea who needs gifts."

  "Gotcha. I'll work on that one first," Shea said.

  Shea's phone rang.

  "Rats. It's IT. I'll have to do that before I can look at the flash drive."

  "It's not your problem anyway."

  He was disappointed she was already leaving. He knew this wasn’t her problem. The project was his. She was here for a different reason. There was nothing to say she had to help at all.

  "Maybe not, but if I can help, why not? See you in a bit."

  It was after one when Shea returned.

  "Want lunch?" she asked heading for her desk. “I’m starving.”

  "Let me treat this time," Jake said, fishing money from his wallet.

  "Okay. Same as always?"

  He almost smiled. Always was three days. If he didn’t count the weekend. Yet he liked the sound of it.

  "Yeah. Why change a good thing?"

  "We should eat better," she commented picking up his money. "And I usually do, but Ben's is temporary for me, so I'm indulging."

  "Cops aren't known for nutritious eating," he said.

  "I haven't seen you eat a si
ngle donut in all the time I've known you."

  He smiled at that. “Like you’ve known me a long time.

  Chapter Four

  Shea stopped for a moment, then turned to continue out the door.

  Wow, that smile was totally unexpected. It made her feel warm and bubbly. When he smiled he didn't look like a mean cop out to save the world. He looked–sexy.

  Whoa, where did that come from?

  Shea wasn't one to deny facts. She liked him.

  She felt some pull of attraction when she was around him. And if she thought he was sexy when he smiled at her like that she wasn't going to deny it.

  But wow again. If he smiled more often, he’d have to beat women off with a stick.

  So maybe it was a good thing he didn’t.

  Except for her.

  She wondered what she could do to make him smile more often.

  The sooner she picked up their lunch, the sooner she'd be back to share it with Jake.

  When she returned and they had opened the wrappers on their lunches, Shea asked him why he'd become a cop. She was interested in learning more about him.

  Jake thought about it a moment.

  "It seemed like the thing to do at the time. I went to junior college and took some courses in criminology. Sounded like something I could get involved with. I like the forensic aspects and the psychology of the criminal mind. I also like the feeling of belonging to an organization that does good."

  "How did you get hurt? Did you get shot?"

  He shook his head. "No, I was chasing a guy and had to jump a fence. When I landed wrong in a pile of trash my ankle just snapped."

  "And the other guy?"

  "Phil came around the other way and caught him."

  "Phil?"

  "My partner. He's been in a couple of times. He brought the Santa hat."

  She laughed. "Okay, I remember him."

  "Yeah. There'll be payback."

  She laughed again.

  Then looking at him, she asked, "Don't your parents worry about you getting shot?"

  She knew from their previous discussion they didn't live nearby or he wouldn't be spending Christmas alone.

  "No parents. They died when I was really little."

  "Oh, sorry about that."

  She became silent, focused on eating lunch.

  "It was a long time ago. I don't even remember them," he said softly.

  She looked at him. "That's sad."

  He shrugged. "It is what it is."

  "So did grandparents raise you?" she asked.

  "No. I grew up in a group home. Worked my way through the two years I went to college and then got on with the police department."

  "And now you’re a detective, right?"

  He nodded.

  "There's not a whole lot of crime in Mondano is there?"

  She always felt it was a safe place to be.

  "You'd be surprised. Not as much as LA or Chicago, but enough to keep the police force at its current staffing level. Without enough staff to continue on the cold cases unless it's someone like me, on the DL."

  She ate in silence for a moment.

  "You probably have parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles and who knows how many best friends" he said.

  She nodded with a grin. "Yep. Only one grandfather has passed, the rest live in Indiana, where I’m from. Except for my parents who are in Florida and my brother in Chicago. Everyone thought they were crazy to move to Florida, but Dad said he was tired of the snow every winter, so off they went when my brother got out of school. Their place is nice, right on a lake. But mosquitoes are horrible in summer and the humidity is more than I'd like to live with long term."

  "Lucky you."

  "I guess that's why the lieutenant assigned you as Christmas Cop," she said a moment later.

  "Why?"

  "You'd know the importance of making Christmas special for kids who might not get it otherwise. I think it's a great program and I want to help this year. I'm practically a part of the department."

  She met his gaze with her sparkling eyes.

  "Hardly. But if you want to help, I'm all for it," he said.

  "Help only. Don't think you can push it off to me. I think it's important that kids see men in action doing good things. You know most kids are raised by women until they're in high school. Think about it–mothers, school teachers, Sunday school teachers, social workers if needed, almost always women. Both boys and girls need strong male role models."

  "I don't see myself as a role model," Jake said, struck by the idea.

  "Doesn't mean you aren't."

  She gathered the trash and tossed it.

  "Let me have the flash drive."

  When he gave it to her, she went to her computer and began to work on the task.

  A short time later, she looked up.

  "I think I can recover most of the data. There'll be gaps, but it’ll give us a good start."

  When she printed out the database a little later, it was five pages long.

  Jake looked up from the file he was studying and took the pages she handed him.

  "As far as I can tell, this is the updated kids list from last year," she said. "Some have addresses, most have the ages as of last year, so I guess we add a year. Some have phone numbers."

  "There must be a hundred kids here," Jake said.

  The size of the task just quadrupled in his mind.

  "I'll work on the volunteer list next, so we can get some help from people who know how it worked last year."

  "Thanks."

  "No problem."

  The afternoon began as others had, with Shea working on her computer, jumping up periodically to walk around the room, then resuming her place at the monitor.

  Only now Jake knew she was working on the lists of vendors, volunteers and kids, and not some program that didn't work.

  Mid afternoon Janey came in accompanied by a young boy. Shea looked up taking in the too small jacket that didn't even zip shut and the worn shoes.

  "Jake, this is Jason Billingsley. He wants to talk to the Christmas cop," she said with a smile at the boy. "This is Jake Morgan, the man in charge this year."

  The boy looked half scared as he took in Jake's frowning demeanor.

  Shea glared at Jake. She wanted to tell him to lighten up, the boy wasn't a crook, and was probably scared to be here in the first place.

  Jason stepped bravely into the room. Janey gave him a pat on the shoulder and left.

  "What can I do for you?" Jake asked, leaning back in his chair.

  "You give the toys for Christmas?" the boy asked.

  "Yes."

  "I want you to make sure you give Susie Taylor a special doll. She's five and has never had a doll. She's in kindergarten and she can play with toys there, but she can't take them home."

  Jake nodded. "What special doll?"

  The boy reached in his pocket and pulled out a tattered sheet of paper.

  "This one," he said, looking at the catalog page.

  Shea watched the exchange. The kid was probably too scared of Jake to step closer, but she knew he couldn't see the doll from his desk.

  "Which doll," she asked, rising to walk over to the boy.

  He looked at her in surprise his eyes wide.

  The pink hair, she knew.

  He held out the paper. It showed a doll that opened and closed her eyes and even came with a layette set.

  "She is special," Shea said, taking the paper. "Where does Susie live?"

  "In my apartment building. She's three doors down," he replied, seeming more comfortable as the minutes ticked by.

  "And that is where?"

  "I can't tell you," he said. "My mom said don't tell strangers where I live or my name or anything."

  "Your mom’s absolutely right. But you can tell a police officer, can't you?" Shea asked.

  He nodded.

  Shea glanced over at Jake.

  "He's a cop, but you better ask for identification befor
e you tell him."

  She grinned.

  Jake gave her a look and reached in his pocket and pulled out his badge, flashing it at the kid.

  "I live at 3762 Belvia Street, apartment 17," Jason recited.

  "Got it," Jake said, jotting it down. "We'll see what we can do," he said looking at Jason. "Thanks for coming in."

  Jason nodded and turned to leave.

  "How did you get here?" Jake asked.

  The boy looked back, a scared expression on his face.

  "I took the bus. I have a student card, so the bus is free."

  "Hold on a minute and I'll see if I can get you a ride home. Belvia’s quite a ways from here."

  Jason looked at Shea and then back to Jake but didn't say anything.

  Jake made a call, arranged things, and then hung up.

  "I have a police officer ready to take you home in a squad car," he said. "Would you like that?"

  Jason's eyes grew huge and his smile matched.

  "That would be so cool!"

  "If you're real nice to the cop, he might let you sound the siren," Jake added.

  Shea smiled at the delight on the boy's face.

  A moment later a uniformed police officer entered. "You Jason?"

  "Yes, sir."

  "I'm Bob Tucker, want to take a ride?"

  "Yes, sir."

  Bob nodded at Jake, flashed a smile at Shea and led the boy out.

  "Who knew you'd be a sucker for a kid," Shea said turning back to her desk. "Maybe you’re the right man for the Christmas job after all."

  "Belvia Street isn't in the best neighborhood in the city. Plus seeing him reminded me of me when I was a kid. That jacket needs to be replaced."

  "And you’d have loved to ride in a police cruiser when you were that age, I bet."

  He nodded.

  "A small enough gesture to give him something he'll probably always remember."

  Shea nodded, her opinion of the man growing.

  He might put on a tough front, but she suspected the more he delved into this project, the more he’d be caught up in it.

  As the afternoon wound down, Shea closed up her computer. She'd deal with the rest in the morning.

  “I'm off, I'll be here in the morning and finish salvaging what I can from the other corrupted files.”